How Ordinary People Can Become Saints
Room for Good Things to Run Wild is an interesting and unique book. If you feel that your faith has been reduced to a boring list of ‘should’ advice from preachers who are as bored by what they preach to you listening, then this is an anti-dote.
After spending too many days feeling bored and depressed, this author was disillusioned by both his faith and the world around him. So instead of ‘giving up on faith’, he chose to explore the real life and mission of Jesus, and the ‘saints of old’.
Accompanied by original illustrations and living liturgy, this book travels the Jesus Way, from Canada to England, and from Ireland to Spain.
Rediscover the wild world that God created for you, in order for you to experience it. Not to listen to a hate-filled preacher, but to discover the beauty of the natural world, the amazing wonder of a polar bear or a purring cat or the leaves of the trees.
Awaken your soul to the real faith, whatever you believe.
Author Josh Nadeau is an artist and writer from Canada’s west coast. His art and words are invitations to imagine the holy ordinary of everyday life, under the beauty of Jesus. He has a Master’s in Theological Studies, an undergraduate in physics, and a doctorate from the ‘school of hard knocks’.
He has his Undergrad in Physics, a Master’s in Theological Studies, and a doctorate from the School of Hard Knocks. He is a husband to Aislinn and a father to Ransom. He spends his days reading, writing, bouldering, and trying to enjoy every good and perfect Gift.
This video from Josh explains why he would use addictions to cope with life, and finally wanted ‘the big sleep’ until he found a way of communing with Jesus in a more hopeful way.
There is Hope to Be a Saint!
If you think that your life up till now has been less than saintly, remember that many people in history did not start out as saints!
Perhaps the most well-known convert from sinner to saint was Blessed Bartolo Longo, who was born in southern Italy. While studying law in Naples, he joined up with ex-priests to oppose the Pope and church, eventually moving from the occult world to become a satanist (promising his soul to a demon).
His family sent a Catholic professor to convince him to see a Dominican priest, and after 3 weeks of talks, he went to confession and became a third-order Dominican himself. He built a shrine in Pompeii, founded orphanages (and a school to give children of criminals a better life).
And it was from his writings that the name ‘Luminous Mysteries’ was given to The Rosary (a prayer used by Catholics using beads). He was beatified as a saint in 1980.
Saint Francis of Assisi (the patron saint of animal welfare, ecology and simple living) was a real party boy! Born in a wealthy family in Italy, he only gave away his possessions and became a saint later on life. It was said that birds would listen to his word, and fish would leap up from the sea, to hear him preach!
St Alban (the town in Hertfordshire is named after him) was a pagan, who was so impressed by a priest that he sheltered, that he converted himself. The first-ever Christian martyr, he was killed for his faith.
